Provision of protected content files via payment system

ABSTRACT

A method on a computer for providing content files to users is disclosed. The method includes establishing a connection with a licensing authority and a payment authority and accepting a connection with a portable data storage apparatus provided by a user. The method further includes providing a catalog of content files to the user and accepting a selection of content files from the user. The method further includes provision of payment by the user to the payment authority. The method further includes receiving a content file from the licensing authority, wherein the content file possesses a first layer of encryption that may be decrypted by authorized players of the content file. The method further includes adding a second layer of encryption to the content file, wherein the second layer of encryption may be decrypted by the portable storage apparatus and storing the content file on the portable storage apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of electronic commerce, and moreparticularly to the sale of original content using electronic paymentsystems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the use of small and/or portable computing devices has increased inrecent years, so has the distribution and use of content files, i.e.,audio files, video files, software files and game files. Consumersroutinely download and play songs on their portable MP3 players andsmartphones. Further, garners routinely buy and play video games ontheir desktop game consoles, handheld fame consoles and smartphones.Many other consumers, however, still purchase content on media (audioCDs, game discs, video DVDs) at physical stores such as audio stores andgaming stores. This can be tedious and time-consuming, as consumers areforced to travel to a physical storefront and transport a tangible mediaitem to the location where they plan to enjoy the content.

The rise of portable computing has also given way to the proliferationof small storage devices. These devices are typically small and light innature and can store large amounts of data, in the megabyte to gigabyterange. As small storage apparatuses are manufactured in increasingquantities, the prices of these devices have plummeted and the number ofsmall storage devices on the market has increased dramatically. Thereare multitudes of small flash memory devices, such as USB thumb drives,available on the market and various other devices, such as standardmagnetic hard drives, are becoming smaller and less expensive. As aresult, these small storage devices are frequently used to transfer datafrom place to place and computer to computer.

As the use of the Internet has increased over recent years, so has theexchange of information and ideas. File sharing, in particular, hasenjoyed increasing popularity over the last few years. However, thegrowth of the Internet has posed some interesting obstacles in the fieldof access control of protected content. As users increasingly send andreceive files quickly and in great quantities, access control can take aback seat to the free flow of information. Early approaches to theproblem involved control over the acquisition of the content. However,this approach lacked the exercise of control over the content once thecontent was acquired by a user.

Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art asdiscussed above, and particularly for a more efficient way for consumersto place purchased protected content onto a portable media apparatus fortransfer to an authorized player of the content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a methodon a computer for providing content files to users is disclosed. Themethod includes establishing a connection with a licensing authority anda payment authority and accepting a connection with a portable datastorage apparatus provided by a user. The method further includesproviding a catalog of content files to the user and accepting aselection of content files from the user. The method further includesproviding the user with a statement of cost corresponding to theselection of content files and accepting electronic payment informationfrom the user. The method further includes transmitting the electronicpayment information to the payment authority and receiving a paymentauthorization from the payment authority for the amount of the cost. Themethod further includes receiving a content file from the licensingauthority in response to reception of the payment authorization, whereinthe content file possesses a first layer of encryption that may bedecrypted by authorized players of the content file. The method furtherincludes adding a second layer of encryption to the content file,wherein the second layer of encryption may be decrypted by the portablestorage apparatus and storing the content file on the portable storageapparatus.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a computer system forproviding content files to users is disclosed. The computer systemincludes a touch screen interface for providing a catalog of contentfiles to the user, accepting a selection of content files from the userand providing the user with a statement of cost corresponding to theselection of content files. The computer system further includes acredit card reading mechanism for allowing the user to provide creditcard payment information to the computer system and a communicationsconnection for communicatively coupling the computer system with apayment authority and a licensing authority. The computer system furtherincludes a connection terminal for coupling the computer system with aportable storage apparatus. The computer system further includes aprocessor configured for, transmitting credit card payment informationfrom the user to the payment authority, receiving a paymentauthorization from the payment authority for the amount of the cost,receiving a content file from the licensing authority in response toreception of the payment authorization, wherein the content filepossesses a first layer of encryption that may be decrypted byauthorized players of the content file, adding a second layer ofencryption to the content file, wherein the second layer of encryptionmay be decrypted by the portable storage apparatus connected to thecomputer system and storing the content file on the portable storageapparatus.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a computer readablemedium including computer instructions for providing content files tousers is disclosed. The computer instructions include instructions forestablishing a connection with a licensing authority and a paymentauthority and accepting a connection with a portable data storageapparatus provided by a user. The computer instructions further includeinstructions for providing a catalog of content files to the user andaccepting a selection of content files from the user. The computerinstructions further include instructions for providing the user with astatement of cost corresponding to the selection of content files andaccepting electronic payment information from the user. The computerinstructions further include instructions for transmitting theelectronic payment information to the payment authority and receiving apayment authorization from the payment authority for the amount of thecost. The computer instructions further include instructions forreceiving a content file from the licensing authority in response toreception of the payment authorization, wherein the content filepossesses a first layer of encryption that may be decrypted byauthorized players of the content file. The computer instructionsfurther include instructions for adding a second layer of encryption tothe content file, wherein the second layer of encryption may bedecrypted by the portable storage apparatus and storing the content fileon the portable storage apparatus.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more particular description of thepreferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features and also theadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies thedrawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall system architectureof an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the operation and control flow of thecontent transport process, in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a computer useful for implementing oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a method, system and computer readablemedium on a computer for providing content files to users. The methodincludes establishing a connection with a licensing authority and apayment authority and accepting a connection with a portable datastorage apparatus provided by a user. The method further includesproviding a catalog of content files to the user and accepting aselection of content files from the user. The method further includesproviding the user with a statement of cost corresponding to theselection of content files and accepting electronic payment informationfrom the user. The method further includes transmitting the electronicpayment information to the payment authority and receiving a paymentauthorization from the payment authority for the amount of the cost. Themethod further includes receiving a content file from the licensingauthority in response to reception of the payment authorization, whereinthe content file possesses a first layer of encryption that may bedecrypted by authorized players of the content file. The method furtherincludes adding a second layer of encryption to the content file,wherein the second layer of encryption may be decrypted by the portablestorage apparatus and storing the content file on the portable storageapparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the overall architecture of oneembodiment of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention adhere to the system architecture of FIG. 1. FIG. 1shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein a user 130 caninteract with a content management system 100 via a terminal 110,wherein the content management system 100 may exist in an enterprise orclient-server implementation that services multiple users and terminalsin more than one location. It should be noted that although FIG. 1 showsonly one user 130 and one terminal 110, the system of the presentinvention supports any number of users and terminals.

FIG. 1 also shows a content management system 100 consisting of alicensing authority 140, a payment authority 150 and a content database160. The licensing authority 140 and payment authority 150, described inmore detail with reference to the figures below, are connected to thenetwork 106. Also shown is player 170, which represents any commerciallyavailable player of content files, such as a personal computer, a CDplayer, a DVD player, a smart phone, a game console, an MP3 player orany combination of the above.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the computer systems ofportable storage apparatus 120, player 170, terminal 110, licensingauthority 140, and payment authority 150 are one or more PersonalComputers (PCs), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), hand heldcomputers, palm top computers, lap top computers, smart phones, gameconsoles or any other information processing devices. A PC can be one ormore IBM or compatible PC workstations running a Microsoft Windows orLINUX operating system, one or more Macintosh computers running a Mac OSoperating system, or an equivalent. In another embodiment, the computersystems of portable storage apparatus 120, player 170, terminal 110,licensing authority 140, and payment authority 150 are a server system,such as SUN Ultra workstations running a SunOS operating system or IBMRS/6000 workstations and servers running the AIX operating system. Thecomputer systems of portable storage apparatus 120, player 170, terminal110, licensing authority 140, and payment authority 150 are described ingreater detail below with reference to FIG. 3.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the network 106 is a circuitswitched network such as the public switched telephone system or aprivate telephone system. In another embodiment, the network 106 is apacket switched network. The packet switched network is a wide areanetwork (WAN), such as the global Internet (or the World Wide Web), aprivate WAN, a local area network (LAN), a telecommunications network orany combination of the above-mentioned networks. In yet anotherembodiment, the structure of the network 106 is a wired network, awireless network, a broadcast network or a point-to-point network.

The licensing authority 140 comprises a computer or computer system thatmanages the transfer of content files from the content database 160 tothe terminal 110 and ultimately to the portable storage apparatus 120 ofthe user 130. Before transfer of the content file to the terminal 110,the licensing authority 140 communicates with the payment authority 150in order to determine whether payment for the content file has beeneffectuated. The licensing authority 140 further communicates with theterminal 110 in order to determine which content file(s) the user 130desires to purchase. Messages transferred between the licensingauthority 140, the terminal 110 and the payment authority 150 cancomprise any one of email messages, a hyper text transfer protocol(HTTP) request, a transmission control protocol/internet protocol(TCP/IP) request, a file transfer protocol (FTP) request and anelectronic data interchange (EDI) request.

The content database 160 is a repository for content files handled bythe content management system 100. The content database 160 can be anycommercially database, such as an Oracle Database, Enterprise orPersonal Edition, available from Oracle Corporation, or a Microsoft SQLServer or Access 2000 database available from Microsoft Corporation. Acontent file can include any type of file that includes content forviewing, hearing or general enjoyment, such as an audio file, a videofile, a software file or a game file for playing on a game console orother small computing device. Examples of audio file types supported bythe content database are any compressed or uncompressed file formatssuch as WAV, AIFF, AU, Windows Media Audio (WMA), MP3, and AAC. Examplesof video file types supported by the content database are any compressedor uncompressed file formats such as Quicktime, WMV, MPEG, MPEG-4, MOV,RealMedia, AVI, WMA, and DivX. Examples of game file types supported bythe content database are XBE, Microsoft. Xbox game file format, SonyPlayStation fame file format and Nintendo game file format.

The content database 160 may include a database management system, whichis an application that controls the organization, storage and retrievalof data (fields, records and files) in database 160. The databasemanagement system accepts requests for data from the content managementsystem 100 and instructs the operating system to transfer theappropriate data. The database management system may also control thesecurity and integrity of the database 160. Data security preventsunauthorized users from viewing or updating certain portions of thedatabase 160. The database management system can be any commerciallydatabase management system, such as the Oracle E-Business Suiteavailable from Oracle Corporation.

The payment authority 150 manages the payment of fees or other moniesfor the purchase of content files. The payment authority 150 caninterface with the licensing authority 140 so as to confirm payment forthe content file that shall be transferred to the portable storageapparatus 120.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the payment authority 150 isa payment gateway, which is an e-commerce Application Service Provider(ASP) service that authorizes payments for e-businesses, onlineretailers, or traditional brick and mortar businesses. A payment gatewayis the equivalent of a physical point-of-sale terminal located in mostretail outlets. Payment gateways encrypt sensitive information, such ascredit card numbers, to ensure that information passes securely betweenthe customer and the merchant. A payment gateway facilitates thetransfer of information between a payment portal (such as a website) andthe acquiring bank, quickly and securely. When a customer orders aproduct from a payment gateway enabled merchant, the payment gatewayperforms a variety of tasks to process the transaction. Payment gatewaysaccept payment via the use of credit cards, charge cards, bank cards,gift cards, account cards, etc.

The terminal 110 comprises a computer or computer system that comprisesa variety of tasks. In one embodiment of the present invention, theterminal 110 includes a touch screen that is used to provide the user130 with a list of content files to choose from, such as a catalog ofcontent files. The touch screen can further be used to allow the user130 to browse the content files and select those files that he desiresto purchase for download. The touch screen can comprise any one ofresistive touch screens, surface wave touch screens, capacitive touchscreens, infrared touch screens, strain gauge touch screens, opticalimaging touch screens, dispersive signal technology touch screens andacoustic pulse recognition touch screens.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 110includes a credit card reading mechanism for garnering electronicpayment information from a credit card, gift card, account card, orother type of card for transferring funds to a vendor. One alternativeto the credit card reading mechanism is a cash entry module that acceptsthe entry of coins or paper currency. In this alternative, the paymentauthority 150 resides on the terminal 110 and the functions of the twoare integrated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the terminal 110includes a connection terminal that comprises a physical connection forconductively coupling the terminal 110 with the portable storageapparatus 120. In this embodiment, the connection terminal may conformsto any one of the following interface standards: (Universal Serial Bus)USB, IEEE 1394, and RS-232 serial. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the terminal 110 includes a connection method that comprisesa wireless connection for wirelessly coupling the terminal 110 with theportable storage apparatus 120. In this embodiment, the connectionmethod may conforms to any one of the following wireless protocols: IEEE802.13.1, IEEE 802.11 and IrDA.

The portable storage apparatus 120 is a small, portable storage devicefor physically transferring the content files between the terminal 110and the player 170. The portable storage apparatus 120 may comprises anyone of a hard drive, such as a standard magnetic or optical drive, aflash memory drive, a flash memory card, a floppy disk, a CD, a DVD andan optical disc. Furthermore, the portable storage apparatus 120 may bea part of a small computing apparatus, such as an MP3 player, asmartphone, a cellular phone, a digital camera, a personal digitalassistant, a palmtop computer, a handheld computer, a portable gamingdevice or any combination of the above.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism by which thecomputers of portable storage apparatus 120, terminal 110 and paymentauthority 150 interact with the licensing authority 140 of contentmanagement system 100 is a client application residing on the respectivecomputer. These client applications can comprise any one of a C++program, a Visual Basic program, a Java applet, a Java scriptlet, a Javascript, a Perl script, an Active X control or any self-sufficientapplication executing on a user computer. The user 130 can communicatewith the content management system 100 via terminal 110 via a Webinterface such as a commercially available Web browser, e.g., NetscapeNavigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present inventiondescribed above, the computers of licensing authority 140, portablestorage apparatus 120, terminal 110 and payment authority 150 aredepicted as separate. In this embodiment, the separate computerscommunicate with each other over a network 106 or other communicationmedium. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, anynumber or all of the computers of licensing authority 140, portablestorage apparatus 120, terminal 110 and payment authority 150 can beintegrated within a content management system. In this alternativeembodiment, those modules or clients that are integrated share the sameresources.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting the operation and control flow of thecontent transport process, in one embodiment of the present invention.The flow chart of FIG. 2 depicts the process by which a content file ispurchased or rented by a user 130 from the licensing authority 140 viathe terminal 110 and stored on a portable storage apparatus 120 forlater play on a player 170. The control flow of the flowchart of FIG. 2begins with step 202 and proceeds directly to step 204. In step 204, theterminal 110 establishing a connection with the licensing authority 140and the payment authority 150. This may comprise the establishment of anInternet connection via network 106 or the establishment of a POTSconnection via network 106.

In step 206, the terminal 110 accepts a connection with the portabledata storage apparatus 120 provided by a user 130. The establishment ofthis connection may comprise a physical connection for conductivelycoupling the terminal 110 with the portable storage apparatus 120 or maycomprise a wireless connection for wirelessly coupling the terminal 110with the portable storage apparatus 120. In step 208, the terminal 110provides a catalog of content files to the user 130. The terminal 110may accomplish this step by providing the catalog information via atouch screen or other display device.

In step 210, the terminal 110 accepts a selection of content files fromthe user 130. The terminal 110 may accept this selection via inputs fromthe user 130 via a touch screen, a key board, a mouse or other inputdevice. The user 130 may choose one or more audio files, video files,software files or game files for download. Among the various selectionsprovided to the user 130 are 1) upgrades for software files, such assoftware patches, upgrade modules or service packs for userapplications, and 2) subtitles in various languages for movie or videofiles.

In step 212, the terminal 110 provides the user 130 with a statement ofcost corresponding to the selection of content files. In this step, theterminal 110 presents via a touch screen or other display device a listof content files selected by the user 130 and a summary of costs(including applicable taxes and other tariffs or fees) associated withthe selection.

In step 214, the terminal 110 accepts electronic payment informationfrom the user 130 such as by allowing the user 130 to insert a creditcard through a credit card reading mechanism. Alternatively, the user130 may enter credit card payment information into the terminal 110 viaan input mechanism such as a touch screen, keyboard or mouse. In step216, the terminal 110 transmits the electronic payment information tothe payment authority 150. In step 218, the terminal 110 receives apayment authorization from the payment authority 150 for the amount ofthe cost.

In step 220, in response to the payment authorization, the licensingauthority 140 sends the selected content files to the terminal 110. Theselected content files possess a first layer of encryption that may bedecrypted by authorized players of the content file. The first layer ofencryption uses a cipher for which a corresponding key is possessed byauthorized players of the selected content files. That is, authorizedplayers of the selected content files can decrypt the first layer ofencryption so as to allow playing of the selected content files on aplayer 170.

In one embodiment of the present invention, popular content files and/orcontent files that have already been received by the terminal 110 remainon terminal 110. In this embodiment, future users 130 desiring topurchase a content file that already resides on terminal 110 have thebenefit of receiving the content file directly from terminal 110,thereby eliminating the need to download the content file from step 220and reducing the amount of time necessary to effectuate a purchase.

In step 222, the terminal 110 adds a second layer of encryption to thecontent file, wherein the second layer of encryption may be decrypted bythe portable storage apparatus 120. The second layer of encryption usesa cipher for which a corresponding key is possessed by the portablestorage apparatus 120. That is, the portable storage apparatus 120 candecrypt the second layer of encryption.

In step 224, the terminal 110 stores the selected content files on theportable storage apparatus 120. In step 226, the user 130 removes theportable storage apparatus 120 from the terminal 110 and inserts it intothe player 170. In step 228, before transfer of the selected contentfiles to the player 170 or before the player 170 attempts to decrypt theselected content files for play, the player 170 requests that theportable storage apparatus 120 decrypt the second layer of encryption.In step 230, a hardware or software component on the portable storageapparatus 120 decrypts the second layer of encryption. In step 232, theplayer 170 decrypts the first layer of encryption and then plays theselected content files. In step 234, the control flow of FIG. 2 ceases.

In one alternative to step 226, the user 130 instructs the portablestorage apparatus 120 to play the content file. In the next step, sincethe portable storage apparatus 120 acts as the player 170 in thisembodiment, a hardware or software component on the portable storageapparatus 120 decrypts the second layer of encryption. Next, theportable storage apparatus 120 decrypts the first layer of encryptionand then plays the selected content files.

In one embodiment of the present invention, if the user 130 decides torent the selected content files, the player 170 or the portable storageapparatus 120 may include computer instructions that destroy, erase orotherwise make inaccessible the selected content files after theexpiration date of the rental. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the user 130 is given an option to choose a content file thatincludes advertising. For example, an audio file can include audiocommercials or a video file may include video or audio commercialsembedded in the content file such that the user 130 experiences thecommercials during the play of the content file. Alternatively,commercials can be experienced by the user 130 while a content file ispaused or while the player 170 is in sleep mode. In this embodiment, theuser 130 may be charged a lesser amount for the content file in exchangefor choosing this option.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a new commercial orcommercials are downloaded onto the portable storage apparatus 120 eachtime the unit is connected to the terminal 110. This allows fordiffering and varied commercials to be experienced by the user 130 aftereach time the unit is connected to the terminal 110.

The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software in the system described in FIG. 1.A system according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncan be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system, or in adistributed fashion where different elements are spread across severalinterconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system—or otherapparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein—issuited. A typical combination of hardware and software could be ageneral-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when beingloaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carriesout the methods described herein.

An embodiment of the present invention can also be embedded in acomputer program product, which comprises all the features enabling theimplementation of the methods described herein, and which—when loaded ina computer system—is able to carry out these methods. Computer programmeans or computer program as used in the present invention indicates anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a system having an information processing capabilityto perform a particular function either directly or after either or bothof the following a) conversion to another language, code or, notation;and b) reproduction in a different material form.

A computer system may include, inter alia, one or more computers and atleast a computer readable medium, allowing a computer system, to readdata, instructions, messages or message packets, and other computerreadable information from the computer readable medium. The computerreadable medium may include non-volatile memory, such as ROM, Flashmemory, Disk drive memory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage.Additionally, a computer readable medium may include, for example,volatile storage such as RAM, buffers, cache memory, and networkcircuits. Furthermore, the computer readable medium may comprisecomputer readable information in a transitory state medium such as anetwork link and/or a network interface, including a wired network or awireless network that allows a computer system to read such computerreadable information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computer system useful for implementingan embodiment of the present invention. The computer system of FIG. 3 isa more detailed representation of the computers of the contentmanagement system 100 of the present invention. The computer system ofFIG. 3 includes one or more processors, such as processor 304. Theprocessor 304 is connected to a communication infrastructure 302 (e.g.,a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various softwareembodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system.After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person ofordinary skill in the relevant art(s) how to implement the inventionusing other computer systems and/or computer architectures.

The computer system can include a display interface 308 that forwardsgraphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure 302(or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit 310.The computer system also includes a main memory 306, preferably randomaccess memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 312. Thesecondary memory 312 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 314and/or a removable storage drive 316, representing a floppy disk drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storagedrive 316 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 318 in amanner well known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Removablestorage unit 318, represents, for example, a floppy disk, magnetic tape,optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removable storagedrive 316. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit 318includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computersoftware and/or data.

In alternative embodiments, the secondary memory 312 may include othersimilar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to beloaded into the computer system. Such means may include, for example, aremovable storage unit 322 and an interface 320. Examples of such mayinclude a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that foundin video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, orPROM) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 322 andinterfaces 320 which allow software and data to be transferred from theremovable storage unit 322 to the computer system.

The computer system may also include a communications interface 324.Communications interface 324 allows software and data to be transferredbetween the computer system and external devices. Examples ofcommunications interface 324 may include a modem, a network interface(such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot andcard, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface324 are in the form of signals which may be, for example, electronic,electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received bycommunications interface 324. These signals are provided tocommunications interface 324 via a communications path (i.e., channel)326. This channel 326 carries signals and may be implemented using wireor cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link,and/or other communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer usablemedium,” and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer tomedia such as main memory 306 and secondary memory 312, removablestorage drive 316, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 314, andsignals. These computer program products are means for providingsoftware to the computer system. The computer readable medium allows thecomputer system to read data, instructions, messages or message packets,and other computer readable information from the computer readablemedium. The computer readable medium, for example, may includenon-volatile memory, such as Floppy, ROM, Flash memory, Disk drivememory, CD-ROM, and other permanent storage. It is useful, for example,for transporting information, such as data and computer instructions,between computer systems. Furthermore, the computer readable medium maycomprise computer readable information in a transitory state medium suchas a network link and/or a network interface, including a wired networkor a wireless network that allows a computer to read such computerreadable information.

Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored inmain memory 306 and/or secondary memory 312. Computer programs may alsobe received via communications interface 324. Such computer programs,when executed, enable the computer system to perform the features of thepresent invention as discussed herein. In particular, the computerprograms, when executed, enable the processor 304 to perform thefeatures of the computer system. Accordingly, such computer programsrepresent controllers of the computer system.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed,those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes canbe made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to berestricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments. Furthermore, it isintended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications,modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the presentinvention.

1. A method on a computer for providing content files to users,comprising: establishing a connection with a licensing authority and apayment authority; accepting a connection with a portable data storageapparatus provided by a user; providing a catalog of content files tothe user; accepting a selection of content files from the user;accepting from the user an acceptance of advertising in the selection ofcontent files; providing the user with a statement of cost correspondingto the selection of content files, wherein the cost of the selection ofcontent files is reduced due to the acceptance of advertising; acceptingelectronic payment information from the user; transmitting theelectronic payment information to the payment authority; receiving apayment authorization from the payment authority for the amount of thecost; receiving a content file from the licensing authority in responseto reception of the payment authorization, wherein the content filepossesses a first layer of encryption for decryption by authorizedplayers of the content file and wherein the content file includesadvertising that is viewed by the user during playback of the contentfile; adding a second layer of encryption to the content file, whereinthe second layer of encryption is decrypted by the portable storageapparatus; and storing the content file on the portable storageapparatus.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method for providingcontent files to users comprises providing any one of audio files, videofiles, software files and game files to users.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the first step of accepting comprises: identifying a connectionwith a portable storage apparatus conductively connected to the computerby the user.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second step ofaccepting comprises: accepting a content file selection from the uservia a touch screen display.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the thirdstep of accepting comprises: garnering electronic payment informationfrom a user credit card that is swiped through a credit card readingmechanism coupled to the computer.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein thesecond step of receiving comprises: receiving a content file from thelicensing authority in response to reception of the paymentauthorization, wherein the content file possesses a first layer ofencryption using a cipher for which a corresponding key is possessed byauthorized players of the content file and wherein the content fileincludes advertising that is played for the user when the portablestorage apparatus is in sleep mode.
 7. The method of claim 6, whereinthe step of adding comprises: adding a second layer of encryption to thecontent file, wherein the second layer of encryption uses a cipher forwhich a corresponding key is possessed by the portable storageapparatus.
 8. A computer system for providing content files to users,comprising: a touch screen interface for providing a catalog of contentfiles to the user, accepting a selection of content files from the user,accepting from the user an acceptance of advertising in the selection ofcontent files and providing the user with a statement of costcorresponding to the selection of content files, wherein the cost of theselected content file is reduced due to the acceptance of advertising; acredit card reading mechanism for reading credit card paymentinformation from the user; a communications connection forcommunicatively coupling the computer system with a payment authorityand a licensing authority; a connection terminal for coupling thecomputer system with a portable storage apparatus; and a processorconfigured for: transmitting the credit card payment information to thepayment authority; receiving a payment authorization from the paymentauthority for the amount of the cost; receiving a content file from thelicensing authority in response to reception of the paymentauthorization, wherein the content file possesses a first layer ofencryption for decryption by authorized players of the content file andwherein the content file includes advertising that is viewed by the userduring playback of the content file; adding a second layer of encryptionto the content file, wherein the second layer of encryption is decryptedby the portable storage apparatus connected to the computer system; andstoring the content file on the portable storage apparatus.
 9. Thecomputer system of claim 8, wherein a content file comprises at leastone of audio files, video files, software files and game files.
 10. Thecomputer system of claim 9, wherein the touch screen comprises any oneof resistive touch screens, surface wave touch screens, capacitive touchscreens, infrared touch screens, strain gauge touch screens, opticalimaging touch screens, dispersive signal technology touch screens andacoustic pulse recognition touch screens.
 11. The computer system ofclaim 10, wherein the communications connection comprises any one of aPOTS telephone connection, a cellular telephone connection, a high speedwired internet connection, and a high speed wireless internetconnection.
 12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the connectionterminal comprises any one of a physical connection for conductivelycoupling the computer system with the portable storage apparatus and awireless connection for wirelessly coupling the computer system with theportable storage apparatus.
 13. The computer system of claim 12, whereinthe connection terminal conforms to any one of the following interfacestandards: USB, IEEE 1394, IEEE 802.13.1, IEEE 802.11 and IrDA.
 14. Thecomputer system of claim 13, wherein the portable storage apparatuscomprises any one of a hard drive, a flash memory drive, a CD, a DVD.15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructionsfor providing content files to users comprise instructions for providingany one of audio files, video files, software files and game files tousers.
 16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the firstinstructions for accepting comprise instructions for: identifying aconnection with a portable storage apparatus conductively connected tothe computer by the user.
 17. The computer readable medium of claim 16,wherein the second instructions for accepting comprise instructions for:allowing the user to select at least one content file via a touch screendisplay.
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the thirdinstructions for accepting comprise instructions for: garneringelectronic payment information from a user credit card that is swipedthrough a credit card reading mechanism coupled to the computer.
 19. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the second instructionsfor receiving comprise instructions for: receiving a content file fromthe licensing authority in response to reception of the paymentauthorization, wherein the content file possesses a first layer ofencryption using a cipher for which a corresponding key is possessed byauthorized players of the content file and wherein the content fileincludes advertising that is played for the user when the portablestorage apparatus is in sleep mode.
 20. A computer readable mediumincluding computer instructions for providing content files to users,the computer instructions including instructions for: establishing aconnection with a licensing authority and a payment authority; acceptinga connection with a portable data storage apparatus provided by a user;providing a catalog of content files to the user; accepting a selectionof content files from the user; accepting from the user an acceptance ofadvertising in the selection of content files; providing the user with astatement of cost corresponding to the selection of content files,wherein the cost of the selection of content files is reduced due to theacceptance of advertising; accepting electronic payment information fromthe user; transmitting the electronic payment information to the paymentauthority; receiving a payment authorization from the payment authorityfor the amount of the cost; receiving a content file from the licensingauthority in response to reception of the payment authorization, whereinthe content file possesses a first layer of encryption for decryption byauthorized players of the content file and wherein the content fileincludes advertising that is viewed by the user during playback of thecontent file; adding a second layer of encryption to the content file,wherein the second layer of encryption is decrypted by the portablestorage apparatus; and storing the content file on the portable storageapparatus.